Can Coworking Help You Banish Procrastination Once And For All?

• The concept of coworking first came about, at least in part, as a means of overcoming procrastination and as an alternative solution to working from home.
• Procrastination can stem from a lack of motivation and the fear of failure — the danger is the more you procrastinate, the more you’ll continue to. The benefits of coworker accountability are tremendous.
• Surrounding yourself with others hard at work creates the right conditions for focus, reducing the inclination to check emails and go on social media.

In a global society that thrives on hustle and glorifies the act of busyness, procrastination lurks like an irksome obstacle blocking the path to success. But it’s a common habit, one that has earned as much as 20% of people in the U.S. the label of “chronic procrastinators,” reveals psychology professor Dr. Joseph Ferrari, in an interview with American Psychology Association. 

The good news is, if you struggle to tick work tasks off your to-do list, you can find resolution in productive work environments like coworking spaces. In fact, outsmarting procrastination is a byproduct of the coworking concept. The first coworking office was established in 2005 by American programmer Brad Neuberg, after he became “fed up of unsocial business centres and his lack of productivity when working from home.” It seems that coworking spaces might be the ultimate work environment to overcome the annoying urge to put things off. 

What’s so wrong with working from home? 

While home working has gained immense global popularity in the past several years, the potential pitfalls can severely hinder productivity. The presence of family and friends, deliveries turning up, demands to look after children and pets, and doing housework can frequently pull you away from work-related tasks. With every distraction, it takes about 10-15 minutes to get back into a state of workflow leading to a cumulative lack of productivity when constant interruptions persist throughout your day. 

Procrastination is more complex than the simple urge to put tasks off. Dr. Tim Pychl, psychology professor and member of Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University, Ottawa, interprets procrastination as “an emotion regulation problem, not a time management problem,” associated with feelings of anxiety, unworthiness, and stress. Procrastination can stem from a lack of motivation and the fear of failure — the danger is the more you procrastinate, the more you’ll continue to. 

Could working from home have a direct link to triggering procrastination? Associations have been made between home working and feelings of loneliness and disconnection in workers. Euan Hall, Chief Executive at The Land Trust, believes that, “Work from home is going to be a major cause of mental ill health in years to come. People are naturally sociable — we need face-to-face interaction.”

The annual State of Remote Work report on workplace preferences by Buffer identifies that the novelty of home working is wearing off, too. Revealing that in 2019, 84% of respondents wanted to continue working from home, the number has since dropped dramatically to 59% in 2022. Meanwhile, 16% of people wanted to work from third spaces in 2019, including coworking offices. It rose to a staggering 41% of people last year, caused by “increased awareness of (and access to) on-demand coworking spaces.” 

People inspire people

The perfect balance between home working and the office, coworking spaces are “havens for productivity” and meaningful collaboration, connection, and cross-pollination between coworkers. At its core, coworking centers around “co” — the community.

Coworking spaces offer the conditions for people with a plethora of skills and services to come together. According to the report carried out by Runway East, 68% of people eagerly go into the workspace to socialize with others, and 44% use the space for collaboration. 50% of people are more likely to “like” their workspace when they work in a flexible one. 

Surrounding yourself with others hard at work creates the right conditions for focus, reducing the inclination to check emails and go on social media. 

“Telling people that we’re going to get something done can powerfully amplify the appeal of actually taking action because our brain’s reward system is so highly responsive to social standing,” explains Caroline Webb in a Harvard article. The benefits of coworker accountability are tremendous.  

Coworking spaces operate to help people thrive in their careers. Hosting events and workshops to achieve personal development goals and combat detrimental workplace habits — like procrastination — are useful for the whole community. This is what coworking does well; it gives workers the conditions they need to thrive both professionally and personally. 

Flexibility, ingrained

The coworking experience extends beyond the borders of conventional office hours and traditional workspace design. Spaces are typically open throughout the day and into the evening, allowing you to choose when you want to come in based around your productivity levels and additional commitments. 

Embracing flexibility empowers people, and results in the creation of valuable work. If a coworking space is conveniently located only a short walk or bike ride away from home, the short commute keeps energy levels high for a productive working day. 

Natasha Guerra, CEO of Runway East says, “The reality is people don’t want to commute, and they want more than a desk. Employers need to shift their thinking from providing the basics to providing a space to work, collaborate and enhance their experience of working.” 

Enhanced working experiences rely on the design of workspaces, too. 

Coworking spaces are emerging as trailblazers in curating beautiful spaces. Workspaces “that incorporate natural elements such as skylights, indoor plants, and living walls are known to be beneficial to wellbeing,” acting as stimulators of productivity. Even “just looking at plants is enough to lower stress levels, reduce your blood pressure and improve your mood.”

Designed to inspire focus and concentration, coworking spaces typically offer a variety of workspaces to move between during the day, from private booths to take a confidential call, to round tables and open booths for collaboration, and more playful spaces equipped with sofas and kitchens. Desk spaces are equipped with ergonomic furniture for optimum comfort, and having multiple computer screens, printing facilities, and super-fast internet in coworking spaces offers amenities that your home office can’t compete with. 

Working in a coworking space that features a distraction-free, inspiring environment will set you up to outsmart procrastination every time.